The Class of 2013’s Big Island trip was blessed with perfect weather throughout the entire adventure. The students, parent chaperones, and teachers visited many sites, historical and modern. They learned about Hawai‘i’s geography, history, and culture.
Pu‘ukohola Luakini and Uchida coffee farm were two very interesting places of long ago. Pu‘ukohola was a sacred temple built by Kamehameha I before his conquest of the rest of the Hawaiian Islands. Uchida coffee farm offered a glimpse at life of a Japanese family back in the early 1900s.
The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) and Koyo Hawaii Deep Sea Water, both located near the Kona International Airport, showcased the different uses of offshore waters. NELHA uses the extreme cold water from the deep ocean to produce energy. It also uses the water in aquaculture and agriculture applications. Koyo refines the water, bottles it, and sells the water to customers in Japan.
The students studied the natural history of the island at the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. They hiked along the summit of Kilauea Crater and down to the bottom of Kilauea Iki Crater. They saw many different native plants and birds.
Everyone returned home with many wonderful memories.
